Air Pacific unveils new products

Air Pacific says the Fiji-based airline's fleet upgrade will allow it to compete on a better footing with its its Australian and New Zealand rivals.

The airline, which is changing its name to Fiji Airways, will take delivery of the first of three new Airbus A330s it has on order.

With the financial contribution of Fijian-based pension funds, these new A330s represent the first time the airline has purchased new wide-bodied aircraft.

Air Pacific chief executive David Pflieger said the A330s would replace the airline's ageing two Boeing 747 aircraft, and feature lie-flat seats at the pointy end and inflight entertainment for every passenger.

"We want to dial up the product because frankly we have to," Mr Pflieger said in an interview from Fiji on Wednesday.

"If you are competing against the likes of Air New Zealand or Virgin you need to have a good, if not great, product out there."

Mr Pflieger has been at the helm of a turnaround plan for Fiji's national carrier, which has lifted passenger numbers and returned the airline to profitability.

Mr Pflieger said it was too early to estimate what effect the proposed Qantas-Emirates alliance, which was being considered by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), would have on Air Pacific's business.

"You have to assume that it gets through first," Mr Pflieger said.

"I don't really waste any brainpower or bandwidth worrying about stuff like that."

Should it receive the green light from the ACCC, Qantas and Emirates would work together on flights between Australia and Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, Asia and across the Tasman, including joint marketing, pricing and coordination.

Qantas, which bought 46 per cent of Air Pacific in 1988, codeshares on the Fiji carrier's flights and the two airlines offer reciprocal frequent-flyer benefits.

The Australian flag carrier has been looking to sell its holding of Air Pacific for some time.